Astro Bot’s game manual proves why physical media needs to be protected

PlayStation 5 exclusive platformer Astro Bot is a game where every corner has been built with love. As it turns out, that’s not just the case for the game itself, but also for the physical release of the game, which features a spectacularly designed manual everyone would’ve loved as a kid.

Astro Bot’s amazing manual

While many gamers will pick up Astro Bot digitally on the troubled PlayStation Store, Astro Bot’s physical edition is an adorable product. Underneath the game disc, you’re treated to a cute illustration of the game’s PlayStation-themed bots, and then there’s the manual.

A rarity for modern games, even Nintendo has given them up, the new PS5 platformer comes with a manual to teach you how to play the game. However, the manual is also a short comic book that cleverly tells players how to engage with the game.

The comic book tells a short story about Astro travelling to a planet to save one of his friends, the main purpose of the game’s main story. As he flies onto the planet on his DualSense spaceship, the comic explains that you can turn the controller to move the ship in-game via a simple diagram.

Afterwards, Astro needs to navigate a simple platforming challenge. With one small jump, the manual shows that you press “X” for a simple hop, and as he crosses a bigger gap with his booster jets the manual shows you to hold the button.

Finally, as Astro reaches his friend, multiple enemies are there. As Astro attacks multiple enemies with his spin attack, it shows you to hold the button down. With his friend safe, he presses the same button to rescue him, just like in the game.

In the end, Astro and his friend reunite and head off to collect more adorable robots, and you’ve learned how to play the game.

A brilliant piece of design

While game manuals may be largely lost today, the Astro Bot manual is unique just by having one, let alone having a manual that teaches players in such an inventive way. As someone who was always excited to read game manuals on the car ride home, this new PlayStation game not only scratches that itch, but delivers it in a way that is amazing for younger players.

After all, Astro Bot could very well be many gamers’ first game, and this entirely visual medium is an amazing teaching aid. It follows the same design language as the game series. It’s simple, but effective, and lovingly designed from start to finish.

Game manuals will never return for all games, and that’s a shame, but as a game that celebrates 30 years of PlayStation, it’s great to see them return in some form. It might not be as thick as a Final Fantasy 7 manual stuffed inside a PS1 jewel case, but it’s something.